To develop polite, well rounded and resilient young people who, through hard work and determination, make excellent progress.

Senior Leadership Team biographies

Chris Smith – Headteacher

Chris has overall responsibility for the effective leadership and management of the school. Particular priority areas include self-evaluation, development planning, parental engagement and financial management. He works closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the Governing Body to ensure that the school continues to have the highest expectations in terms of behaviour and progress of the students.

Chris is a teacher of Biology and is part of the Gold Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Kristy Pascoe – Deputy Headteacher

Kristy has a specific responsibility for the pastoral care and wellbeing of students and staff throughout the school. She also oversees student rewards, attendance and behaviour. She is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and is responsible for the PSD curriculum.

Kristy is the Senior Associate for the Senior Associate Link for the Science Faculty, including PE and is a teacher of Business Studies. She is also part of the Silver Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Ian Medlicott – Deputy Headteacher

Ian has a specific responsibility for the Curriculum of the school, including the Year 9 Pathways process, staff deployment and timetable. He is a Raising Standards Leader and has a whole school remit to monitor the quality of outcomes for all students. He is also responsible for Educational visits and co-ordinates the risk assessment process across the school, supporting the provision of extra-curricular activities.

Ian is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for the Mathematics and Technology Faculties, and is a teacher of Geography and Humanities. He is also part of the Silver Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

James Siddle – Deputy Headteacher

James has a specific responsibility for the quality of Teaching and Learning across the school, including the effectiveness of feedback to students and homework. He is also responsible for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) and Continuous Professional Development for teachers (CPD).

James is the Senior Leadership Team Senior Associate Link for MFL , and is a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages. He is also part of the Bronze Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Sue Rowing – Assistant Headteacher

Sue is responsible for performance in the Sixth Form, working closely with subject leaders to help improve the quality of provision, assessment and teaching, with a view to maximising examination outcomes. She works alongside the pastoral team to promote a positive Sixth Form culture and supports students in developing effective study habits.

Sue also leads an established Mathematics Faculty and is keen to ensure that students develop confidence in their mathematical skills and can use them in a variety of situations, for both examinations and for real life.

Stephanie Smith – Assistant Headteacher

Stephanie is the SENCO so has specific responsibility for the students with special educational needs and disabilities. She is also the Raising Standards Leader for Gifted and Talented students, in charge of the GT register and monitoring their progress and provision.

Stephanie is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for the Humanities Faculty, and is a teacher of English, film studies, and media studies. She is also part of the Silver Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Hannah Talbot – Assistant Headteacher

Hannah has a specific responsibility for assessment across the school, including reporting and parents’ consultations. She is also responsible for Pupil Premium students, ensuring that our disadvantaged students have the same opportunities to succeed as all other students.

Hannah is the Senior Leadership Team Associate for the English Faculty, having previously been Head of English. She continues to teach both English Language and English Literature at GCSE and A Level. She is also part of the Gold Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Ben Atkinson - Senior Leadership Team Associate

Ben is responsible for the quality of BTEC programmes across the school. He is also the Raising Standards Leader for Year 10, working closely with subject leaders, pastoral staff and students to improve examination outcomes.

Ben is the head of a highly creative Technology Faculty that encompasses subjects such as Art, Engineering and Food. He leads the Engineering Department and also teaches Product Design and Health & Social Care. Ben is also part of the STEM team that organise activities to prepare students for work in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths fields.

Steve Clark - Senior Leadership Team Associate

Steve is responsible for the future employability of all our students. He works closely with the Careers Guidance Officer and Heads of Year to ensure students know of what opportunities there are available to them at South and beyond, as well as helping them develop and understand their soft skills. A key aspect is contact with working adults to help students understand the world of work.

Steve is also Head of Physics and one of the Assistant Heads of Science. Having been awarded a Royal Academy grant he supervises the student team that monitors the cosmic rays measured by the school’s detector and the research into this phenomenon carried out by the students. He is also part of the Gold Expedition Team for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

South Bromsgrove High Academy Trust is a charity and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with Company Number 8565135 whose Registered Office is at Charford Road, Bromsgrove, B60 3NL